What a week!

What a week! Lots to write about from these last few days, so buckle your seatbelts, I think its going to be a long one. 

So firstly it’s been a week since we got engaged and we are still very happy! And it’s now all official – the facebook relationship status has been changed and everything! It was quite hard telling my friends and family from so far away – I would have loved to be there in person, but will just have to wait until November for a big celebration! I’m even getting used to using the word ‘fiance’, its definitely got a nice sound to it!

The day after we got engaged, Karim took me up on top of the blue gate – the main entrance to the medina. I had seen people up there once or twice but its not exactly tourist accessible; its connected to a family’s house. But as Karim knows everyone, I wasn’t surprised he knew them too! I see the blue gate nearly every day, and its one of the most photographed icons of Fes, so it was a surprise to find out that on top it serves as a roof terrace for the family to hang their washing! You would never guess from looking at it down below! 

The weekend we went to a place called Ain louwali(?) – a natural cold spring in the middle of nowhere. On one side is this big highway under construction and on the other side is a small village, and then just barren hills all around. But the spring itself was beautiful – crystal clear water, refreshingly cold on a hot summers day! We went with a group of Karim’s friends and spent a lovely afternoon swimming, sitting in the sun, and devouring an 18kg watermelon between us! It was interesting to see how the locals used the spring too. Often a heard of sheep or cows would be led down to take a drink, 2 older ladies from the village came to do their washing and when we were about to leave several children came on their donkeys with big water containers to fill. 

On Sunday we went to the medina to say goodbye to Julia (Aziz’s girlfriend) who was flying back to the states that night. Being so busy with school, I wasn’t able to spend much time with her these last couple of weeks, and they have been busy with the new guesthouse too. But I have no doubt that our paths will cross in Morocco again soon! 

We had another reservation in Palais Phoebe on Monday when 3 of my friends from Somers came through – Helen, Diva and Tato. It was nice to catch up with some familiar faces and hear whats happening in the wider world, and also to show them a bit of my new world (although Karim did most of the showing!) They were only here for one night before continuing on their Moroccan journey, but next week I have 2 or 3 more friends coming!

School finishes this Friday, which I’m actually a little sad about. I’ve really enjoyed the classes, and it has given me something to do while Karim is at work. And while I still don’t speak it much, I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress. I’m going to keep up with it though – Karim’s sister has volunteered to give me more lessons, and Karim is going to teach me how to write the Arabic script. shweeya b shweeya! (little by little.)

And finally it was Karim’s birthday yesterday. Birthdays aren’t really celebrated in Morocco after childhood, but after the amazing party that Karim threw me I couldn’t exactly ignore his birthday! So I surprised him with a few presents, a birthday cake and I took him out to a nice restaurant for dinner – a Japanese/thai restaurant! Who would have guessed you could eat sushi or pad thai in Fes! We’ll definitely be going back there! And I think thats about enough writing for now! 

The blue gate

On top of the blue gate!

A perfect place to hang washing!

At Ain Louwali

Swimming in the cold spring

18kg of watermelon heaven

Happy Birthday Fiance!

Breaking News!

So I think this is going to be the hardest blog – I don’t really know how to write it! And a blog isn’t the usual way to announce what I’m about to announce. But being on the other side of the world to most of you, I guess I don’t have much choice... 

So I’m just going to say it – I’m engaged! On the 19^th of July at about 11pm, Karim asked me to marry him and I said yes. Although we have been talking about our future for a while now, it wasn’t exactly a planned proposal, it just sort of happened while we were talking in bed! And I couldn’t be happier – we both haven’t been able to stop smiling! It was very hard to concentrate the next day in school! It still feels a little surreal, and it’s hard not being able to celebrate with my family and friends. In fact, being nearly Ramadan we haven’t been able to really celebrate at all; we have to wait until September to pop the champagne! But he did surprise me the next day with a massive bouquet of flowers.

So that’s my big news!! I wish I could have told you all in person, or I wish there was a better and more personal way of announcing it from so far away. But at least finding out on my blog is better than changing my status on facebook? No plans for the wedding(s) as yet, at this stage we are just enjoying this new and very exciting chapter of our relationship!

Kitten Paradise

So this past week has been kind of rollercoastery (and yes, thats totally a real world – I work at Luna Park, so I would know.) 

At the start of last week I was so close to becoming a mother – Karim placed the most adorable kitten on my lap saying that she needed a home. Every day i am tempted to take one of the street kittens home, but this one was different. The moment she looked at me with her big round kitten eyes, it was love at first sight. While she played with my fingers and fell asleep with her head on my hand, i wrestled with the decision to take her or not. In the end, my head ruled over my heart and I had to say goodbye. But I think she has now found another family, and I’m sure she will be well looked after! My other favourite kittens at the moment are 5 tiny babies – they were born about a week ago and they still haven’t opened their eyes! The mother was easily bribed with some cheese so I was able to get some photos! Whoever thought morocco would turn me into such a big kitten softy!

School this week was a much more manageable 10 hours, but still learning lots (and acing my tests may i add! Top of the class indeed!) And finally it was the weekend, and a hot one at that. We spent Saturday at the pool and then on Sunday we went to the dam again to go swimming. Except while we there, not so far away from where we were sitting, a man drowned. I’m not sure of the circumstances but they were looking for his body for about 30mins before they managed to get him out. His father had just arrived at the scene a few minutes before. So that was a pretty awful way to end the week, and I don’t think we will be going back to the dam for a while. But it also makes me think how lucky we are in Australia, where such a strong emphasis is placed on learning to swim. The man was only about 10m from the shore.

The weather now has cooled down a little, and I actually woke up early this morning thinking how cold it was! The days are still nice and sunny, but never really much over 30 degrees, so a really pleasant change. I’m hoping this weather stays for Ramadan which is fast approaching! (get it? Fast approaching! I made a joke without even realising it!) It's certainly going to be an interesting experience. Anyway, I still have homework to do before class, so thats it for this blog for now. More to come later!

Nap time at the pool - gotcha again!

Kitties!

I think the big ones are her kittens from the last litter, but still its a little strange!

She loved me, really!

Even Karim can't resist the kitten charm

Adorable!

2 months in...

Monday was my 2 month anniversary of being here, I can’t believe how fast the time has gone! Karim and I celebrated with a candlelight dinner at home and I even made a caramel sauce to have with vanilla ice-cream, yum! And we still have another 4 months together. My previous trips here I’ve only been able to stay a week or two, so having all this time is such a luxury!

I am also now into my 4^th week of Arabic school, and since last week I have been all by myself. The other student (an older gay man) was only staying for 3 weeks anyway, but at the start of last week he had a disagreement with one of our teachers and stormed out. Apparently, you don’t ask a gay man how is hypothetical wife is, not even to practise greetings and asking about someone’s family! (My hypothetical children on the other hand, are all fine, thanks for asking.) So being the only student, I now only have 10 hours a week, but still as much work as ever!

Last week I also went to a circumcision party, which I was relieved to find out didn’t actually include the circumcision itself. There was a DJ, a band and lots of dancing (on the woman’s side anyway), tea and sweets and even a professional cameraman to capture all the action. When we eventually left my ears were ringing from the music (I had a prime position next to the amps) and my eyes were blinded from so much colour. The women wear these beautiful Moroccan dresses in all shades of bright and colourful!

The weekend was spent with one of Karim’s older friends - Driss and one of his two wives. On Saturday we went to a dam about 30mins outside of Fes, where we swam, got rowed around in a boat and ate freshly caught barbecued fish. And then on Sunday night we went around to their house for dinner. But when we went to leave, Driss came too – he was going to his other house to eat another dinner with his other wife! The two wives thing is something I don’t think I will ever be able to get my head around – but don’t worry, Karim has sworn he is a one-wife kinda guy!

And lastly just a side note: I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM MISSING OUT ON HARRY POTTER! I am so jealous of everyone who has seen it already. It really makes me question whether I made the right decision in coming here...Just kidding! (kind of), I am loving life here and will book tickets to London soon to watch Harry Potter there. But sad I can't see it with my fave Harry Potter peeps! 

On the way to school...

Karim's littlest sister Zineb showing off her drawing

nap time (hehe, got ya Karim)

Swimming in the dam

Karim at the dam

Driss and wife #2